Victor Copps

Victor Kennedy "Vic" Copps (March 21, 1919 – October 15, 1988) was a Canadian politician and Mayor of Hamilton.[2]

Victor Copps
Mayor of Hamilton, Ontario
In office
1962–1976
Preceded byLloyd Douglas Jackson
Succeeded byVince Agro
Personal details
Born
Victor Kennedy Copps

(1919-03-21)March 21, 1919
Haileybury, Ontario
DiedOctober 15, 1988(1988-10-15) (aged 69)
Hamilton, Ontario
Resting placeHoly Sepulchre Cemetery
Spouse(s)Geraldine Florence (Guthro) Copps[1]
ChildrenSheila Copps

Life and career

Copps was born in Haileybury, Ontario. He enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force during World War II, following which, he worked in Timmins, Ontario for a local newspaper. In 1945 he moved to Hamilton to become a sports broadcaster on CHML. He entered local politics in 1960, winning a seat on the Board of Control and becoming deputy Mayor. He ran for Mayor in 1962 defeating the incumbent.

Vic Copps (in hat) at a Liberal Party of Canada fundraiser in Burlington, Ontario.

He sparked outrage among Hamilton's Protestant community, as one of his first official acts was to abolish the annual Orange Order Parade, a staple of Hamilton for many years. In 1964 he was an unsuccessful candidate at the Ontario Liberal Party's leadership convention.

Copps continued as mayor until 1976 when he was forced to retire following a heart attack while running in the Around the Bay Road Race. He was the city's first Roman Catholic mayor and its second-longest serving holder of that office. Under his leadership, the city engaged in a major project of urban renewal. The city's sports and entertainment arena, FirstOntario Centre, was previously named Copps Coliseum in his honour.

Copps was the father of Sheila Copps, a former Canadian cabinet minister.

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References
  1. HighBeam
  2. "1963-1976 - Victor Kennedy Copps". Retrieved 2012-06-04.
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